ning Chief Mutambara) and Fibion Musukutwa, 80, (an uncle to Arthur, babamudiki) See photo p 9.
Mr Musukutwa is next in line for the Mutambara chieftainship. Together, the two senior citizens and members of the royal Mutambara clan told the Mutare rally that their Chief had assigned them to convey a message to Morgan Tsvangirai at Chisamba grounds. Musukutwa told more than 25 000 people at the rally that when Arthur Mutambara had sought his advice about entering politics at the invitation of Welshman Ncube and others, he told him to abandon that “dangerous dream”.
He said as far as the family was concerned, and indeed the whole of Chimanimani, Morgan Tsvangirai remained the legitimate leader of the MDC. As far as the Mutambara clan was concerned, there was only one MDC led by Roy Bennett in Manicaland and by Tsvangirai nationwide. Musukutwa’s short address sent the rally into a loud applause.
The two later donated a ram to Tsvangirai, saying it was a gift from the people of Mutambara in Chimanimani. – Own correspondent
Changamire condemns Mugabe
BULAWAYO – The Mutambara-led faction of the MDC has expressed shock and horror at President Mugabe’s attack and insult on Zimbabweans “sweating and toiling to earn a decent living in the diaspora”.
“Mugabe’s Independence speech was in bad taste. He insulted citizens for what he called the ‘scratching of old people’s backs’ by Zimbabweans in the Diaspora. It is very unfortunate that the President pretends as he has always done, not to know why citizens of Zimbabwe are crossing crocodile infested rivers, land mined borders and sell their life time savings to buy air tickets to go and try their luck in the region and overseas,” said deputy information secretary Morgan Changamire in a statement.
He said Mugabe’s attack contradicted the Reserve Bank Governor’s several trips abroad to drum up support for remittance of valuable foreign currency by citizens in the diaspora.
“It seems he is not also aware that the ruined economy is sustained by citizens in diaspora because the country has no exports to talk about with sectors like manufacturing, agriculture tourism and textiles on their knees,” said Changamire.
He called upon patriotic citizens of Zimbabwe in the diaspora to ignore the attacks and insults and continue to support their suffering families at home “inflicted upon them by a black minority regime ruling under the guise of black majority”.
New appointments for MDC faction
BULAWAYO – The Pro-Senate MDC faction has announced a number of new appointments to its National Executive.
“At a recent meeting, the executive reiterated that the resolution of the national crisis will require the development of national consensus involving all stakeholders in the country on the question of a new constitution for the country as well as on the principles under which competition for political office takes place,” says a statement by secretary general Welshman Ncube.
The new office bearers are: chairperson – Jobert Mudzumwe, secretary for information – Gabriel Chaibva, director of elections – Paul Themba Nyathi, secretary for local government and housing – Josphat Tshuma, secretary for health – Stella Allberry, deputy organising ecretary – Morgan Changamire, deputy secretary for legal affairs – Tonderai Chitere, secretary for transport – Edwin Dzambara. – Own correspondent